Penny
“I hate that it’s over.” I pout to the girls as we stand at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Spotlight just a few feet ahead.
Finally, I was able to get out and explore. I know I should be thankful. I am, but I can’t help but look around and imagine what it would be like to walk to the farmers market to grab fresh ingredients for my recipes or head to Tip-Top-Tease for a polish change or get one of those relaxing pedicures.
“Me too,” Jen whines. “Since this girl started school and got engaged, I barely see her.”
“I know. I’m sorry, guys. I promise I’ll do better,” Nina says as she punches the pedestrian button again.
“This has to be the longest light change ever.” Jen looks around. “I don’t see the cops. Let’s just go for it.” She tempts us.
“There’s always someone watching.” I scan the area. “Plus, I’m about to be locked back up. Let me enjoy my yard time,” I tease.
“Girl, if I was stuck in your camp, I wouldn’t complain.” Jen pokes me in the side. “That man defines S-E-X.”
“Jen!” I can’t help but blush. “He’s nothing to complain about, but …”
“There are no buts about it. You know what to do.” She winks.
Looking away, I hide the crimson that crept up on face.
“Let’s go. We have the walking guy,” Jenn hollers as she pulls Nina behind her.
Grabbing my bags, I follow, making sure the street is clear before I cross.
Right—clear.
Left—him.
“Come on, Penny. This isn’t the time to play Frogger. Your timer is running out,” I hear Jen shouting at me, but I’m frozen.
He’s here.
Standing on the other side of the street waiting to cross is a man who looks just like Tyler. Maybe it’s not him. This man is dressed in jeans and a baseball shirt and Tyler hated baseball. Maybe I’m losing it.
“No more ER visits.” Nina grabs my arm and jerks me to attention and we begin to run.
“I thought I saw …” I try to catch my breath from sprinting across the street.
“Who?” Nina asks concerned. “Tyler?”
“Yeah.” I look back and search the crowd walking across the street. “I thought he was over there.” I shield my eyes pointing in the direction where I saw him standing.
“We should tell Shapiro,” Jen says walking up.
“I think it was just my mind playing tricks on me.” I take one more look.
He’s gone.
There is no way he would be strolling the streets. That’s too leisurely for him.
Following Nina and Jen, we walk through the entrance of Spotlight, past the bar to the back where the only entrance to the top floor is.
“Hey!” A waitress comes up to me. “Aren’t you staying upstairs with Shapiro?” she questions and I’m not sure how to answer.
Stop being paranoid. The meeting—muffins.
“Yeah. I’m Penny. I’m the one who …”
“Here, I have this for you.” She hands me a piece of paper.
Flipping it open, I see it’s a warning.
TELL YOUR BOYFRIEND I’M WATCHING YOU!
Tyler!
He knows where I am. Did he follow me? Was he watching me? If he was trying to hurt me, he could have. He would have. He. Was. Right. There.
“Penny? Earth to Penny.” Nina waves her hand in front of my face.
“I’m sorry. I just …” I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to worry her either.
“Jen has an emergency work situation. The barista that was supposed to work this afternoon didn’t show up.”
“Okay.” I look beyond Nina and see Jen on her phone.
“Let’s get you upstairs,” Nina suggests.
“I think I can manage to walk up a few flights of stairs.” I turn Nina around and give her a little push. “Now go! People need their coffee.”
“It’s true, Nina,” Jen agrees. “It saves lives. So many lives.”
“Guys, thank you so much for today.” I reach over and quickly give each one of them a hug.
“Thank your man for me.” Jen winks.
“I’ll talk to you later.” Nina gives me a quick squeeze before they both head out.
After they’re out of sight. I race up the stairs to tell Shapiro about my day and show him the note from Tyler, but the closer I get, the doubt kicks in.
Today was about getting my life back. I got a taste of what it feels like to be in control, to be free and this little thin piece of paper jeopardizes it all. I can’t live like that again. I was slowly losing who I was.
Tyler won’t hurt me. I truly believe that. He may want to scare me into coming back, but actually laying his hand on me … that’s not how he punishes.
Tucking the note safely in my bra, I shake off any doubt of what I’m about to do. Maybe, if I stay alert and become more aware of my surroundings, everything will be okay.
It has to be.
Shapiro
I told them to never leave her and here she is, walking down the hallway, alone. Flipping through the cameras one at a time, I watch her surroundings to make sure she makes it up here safely. It’s my job. To protect her.
It’s more.
“Shit!” I kick at the rug that has turned up from me pacing.
It’s always been more. The harder I fight it, the stronger it gets. Everything I do is to protect her to make sure she is finally safe. So maybe, one day, we could explore something more … when she’s ready.
Clicking the channel to bring up all the cameras I see she’s at the front door. Racing over, I swing it open. “Why are you alone?”
“I-I mean Jen had a work emergency. I thought with all the cameras”—she points to the one on top of the kitchen cabinets—“I would be fine.” Penny pushes past me. “Plus, I knew you were here.” She turns around and sets down the bags.
“You can’t do that.”
“Okay.” Her eyes roll. “I’ll just put them in my room then.” She gathers her bags in one hand and starts toward her room.
“No. I didn’t mean … shit, Penny.” I breath out a sigh. “I want to see your things and hear about your day. So please don’t go to your room.”
“Oh! I thought …”
“I was worried, okay.” I walk over to her and grab her bags. “Come, tell me about your day.”
“Really?” she beams.
I nod.
Moving past me, she swipes up one of the bags and heads toward the coffee table.
I don’t know why I didn’t notice before. Maybe I was too caught up on why she was alone to notice how gorgeous she looks.
“That Tip-Top-Tease place was amazing. They had everything and treated us like we were royalty,” she says excitedly as she takes everything out of the bag and lays it out.
While I’m listening to her go on and on I can’t help but watch as her ass sways with each movement and the way her tits play peek-a-boo as she bent over.
“Oh, and this …” She twirls once giving me a little peek at her lingerie.
A smile creeps over my face. When I made the arrangements, I told Christy to go all out. I wanted her to have a new wardrobe, accessories and all. I’m just pleased she took me seriously.
Hmm … I wonder if she’s matching.
“Shapiro?”
“Huh?” I shake off the image.
“Did you hear what I was saying?” She stands there, eyes narrowing and hands on hips.
“Of course!”
I heard enough to know that giving her more days like this was definitely an option.
“Then what did I say?” She dares me to answer.
Counting off on my fingers, I answer her. “Nails, toes, hair, clothes. Lots and lots of clothes and new thongs.”
“I didn’t say anything about a thong.” Her eyes slowly begin to widen as a blush creeps over her cheeks.
“So, you didn’t.”
“Shapiro!” She hides her face.
“Penny …” I move in front of her and pry her fingers away one by one. “Don’t hide from me.”
“I’m sorry.” She worries her bottom lip before she meets my gaze again.
Light brown to dark, we stand there not hiding. Each of us daring the other to say something. To break the tension that is building.
“Thank you.” Her voice barely audible. “This was more than I could have ever imagined.”
“You’re welcome.” I reach over, cupping her elbow as I lean in to leave a soft lingering kiss to her cheek. “You’re worth it,” I whisper, my heated breath blows against her skin before I pull away. Giving her body a once over, I appreciate her new attire. “Absolutely beautiful.”
“I need to …”—she gulps—“clean this up.”
“Let me help.” I clap my hands together. “What goes where?”
“I got this. I’m just going to quickly change and hang everything up.” She stalls for a moment. “You work tonight?”
“Nope.”
Gavin is training a new bouncer, so I took the opportunity this morning to request the day off. After yesterday, Penny needed to know she wasn’t alone.
“How about you fix us some popcorn and Kool-Aid. Make it a Grey’s night?”
“Sounds perfect. Break out a special occasion?”
“We can’t make every day one. How about grape?” She flashes me a quick grin as she throws the clothes in her bag.
This should tell me everything I need to know. This woman could have picked any flavor of Kool-Aid, but she didn’t. She respected the special occasion and went for what we had the most of. She noticed and took note. This may be something little, but sometimes it’s the little things that count the most.
I like this Penny, the one that is carefree. The one who has a smile plastered to her face. The one who seems happy.
She is happy. I helped make that happen and I would do anything to keep her that way.